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| August 16, 2005 | Tuesday | Rajab 10, 1426 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
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Earthquake jolts Northern Areas: No loss reported GILGIT, Aug 16 (APP): A strong earthquake jolted Gilgit and its surrounding areas here few minutes before Tuesday midnight. Police told APP it had not received any report of human or property loss and were awaiting further details. The jolts panicked the area people who ran out in the open. (Posted @ 23:25 PST)
Airliner with 152 passengers crashes in Venezuela; all declared dead CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug 16 (Reuters) An airliner with 152 passengers onboard crashed near Venezuela's border with Colombia on Tuesday after suffering engine trouble, Venezuelan authorities said. All passengers died in the West Caribbean Airways jet crash, France's civil aviation authority said. "All the passengers are from Martinique. The 153 are dead," a spokeswoman for the DGAC civil aviation authority said. The Colombian airline West Caribbean Airways said there were 152 passengers and eight crew on board. All had died, it added.(First Posted @ 17:46 Updated @ 20:05 PST)
President appreciates WB support for Pakistan economy ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf appreciated the World Bank's support to Pakistan for various sectors of economy, including poverty alleviation, water, power, energy and infrastructure projects. He was speaking to the World Bank President, Paul D. Wolfowitz, who called on him on Tuesday. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was also present. President Musharraf highlighted the government's economic reforms programme, which had resulted in a turnaround of the national economy. The WB delegation lauded the far-reaching economic reforms introduced by the Pakistani government and also appreciated the numerous initiatives taken by it for the reformation of banking sector, which served as a catalyst in the overall economic growth.(Posted @ 18:10 PST)
Gang war leaves 33 dead in Guatemala prisons GUATEMALA CITY, Aug 16 (AFP) - Rival gangs armed with guns and grenades clashed in a battle for control of several Guatemalan prisons that left at least 33 inmates dead and about 63 wounded, prison authorities said Tuesday.(Posted @ 22:55 PST)
Cholera kills 147 in Guinea and Guinea-Bissau BISSAU, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Cholera has killed 147 people in Guinea-Bissau and neighbouring Guinea since June and infected more than 7,000 others, health officials in the two countries said on Tuesday.(Posted @ 22:45 PST)
Cyprus airline admits crash plane had problems in past NICOSIA, Aug 16 (AFP) - The Cypriot airline whose plane crashed in Greece at the weekend killing all 121 people on board admitted Tuesday the aircraft involved had prior cabin pressure problems but insisted it met safety standards. "In Helioss six-year history, we have only experienced one incident of decompression on our aircraft," Helios Airways said in an Internet statement. "We can confirm that the aircraft that experienced the decompression problem was the aircraft that was involved in this accident," it said. Helios, the island's sole private carrier, said the aircraft was flying from Warsaw to Larnaca and landed in accordance with normal procedures, "under the circumstances".(Posted @ 22:15 PST)
Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics celebrate faith in Germany COLOGNE, Germany, Aug 16 (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of young Catholics were celebrating the start of the World Youth Days jamboree on Tuesday and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI two days later. Some 200,000 people gathered at a stadium in Cologne, western Germany, and in the nearby cities of Duesseldorf and Bonn for three simultaneous late-afternoon services to raise the curtain on the biennial gathering of Catholic youth from around the globe. "I welcome you with heartfelt joy," Cologne Cardinal Joachim Meisner told the cheering crowd waving national flags at the raucous kick-off in the host city. Some 400,000 people from more than 190 countries have registered for the event running through Sunday.(Posted @ 22:10 PST)
Cricket-New Zealand reach 454-7 at the close v Zimbabwe BULAWAYO, Aug 16 (Reuters) New Zealand were 454 for seven in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings total of 231 at the close of play on the second day of the second test in Bulawayo on Tuesday. Scores: New Zealand 454-7 (Lou Vincent 92, Stephen Fleming 65, Nathan Astle 116 not out) v Zimbabwe 231 (Tatenda Taibu 76, Shane Bond 6-51)(Posted @ 20:52 PST)
Peru's Kuczynski is new premier LIMA, Peru, Aug 16 (Reuters) Peru's respected outgoing economy minister, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, said on Tuesday he was taking over as prime minister in a reshuffle to end President Alejandro Toledo's worst Cabinet crisis in his four years in office.(Posted @ 20:46 PST)
Indian troops kill four militants in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, Aug 16 (AFP) Indian troops on Tuesday shot dead four militants in occupied Kashmir, the army said. Two were killed in a four-hour long clash near the town of Sopore while the other two were killed in separate clashes in the district of Anantnag on the outskirts of Srinagar.(Posted @ 20:44 PST)
Contingency plan to be prepared to deal with oil spills: PM ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday gave directions to prepare a contingency plan for the timely and effective measures to be taken in the event of an oil spill crisis. Recalling the oil spill in Karachi involving the oil tanker Tasman Spirit, he said "the plan should ensure swift response and in case of emergency have the capacity to overcome such calamities in an effective manner." Aziz directed the Ministry of Environment and other related ministries to identify the capabilities available in the region that can be accessed in times of crisis.(Posted @ 19:40 PST)
SC rejects pleas seeking permission to contest LG elections LAHORE, Aug 16 (APP) A three-member full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday rejected dozens of petitions seeking permission to contest the Local Government (LG) elections on the basis of certificates of religious institutions. The court held that religious institutions certificates holders should pass English, Urdu and Pakistan Studies exams from their respective secondary boards and then their certificates would be accepted equivalent to the matriculation exam. Earlier the Attorney General of Pakistan, Makhdoom Ali Khan, appearing before the court bench submitted that the University Grants Commission had declared that three compulsory subjects including English, Urdu and Pakistan Studies should be passed by (the candidates holding degrees from) religious institutions.(Posted @ 18:38 PST)
At least 17 Spanish troops die in Afghan crash KABUL, Aug 16 (Agencies) At least 17 Spanish troops with the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan were killed on Tuesday in a helicopter crash during an exercise near the western city of Herat, a Spanish Defence Ministry spokesman said. The helicopter went down south of Spain's base at Herat, the spokesman said. The Spanish defence ministry said the crash was an accident. Spanish state radio reported that five others troops from a second helicopter were injured upon making an emergency landing after seeing the first helicopter crash.(First Posted @ 15:15 PST Updated @ 17:25 PST)
Don't demonise our religion, 38 Muslim groups tell Blair LONDON, Aug 16 (AFP) Thirty-eight Muslim groups issued a joint protest Tuesday against anti-terrorist measures set out by Prime Minister Tony Blair in the wake of the London bombings, saying they risked demonising Islam. The groups, including the Islamic Human Rights Commission and the Muslim Association of Britain, also condemned plans to ban the political organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain. "We fear that recent events are being exploited by some sections in society to demonise legitimate Islamic values and beliefs and hence consider it appropriate to make the following observations," they said. "If it is suggested that any laws have been broken by any individuals or groups then this must be proven by due legal process," they said. "Criminalising the mere possession of certain opinions is the hallmark of dictatorships, not democracies," they added.(Posted @ 17:22 PST)
Police make first expulsions from Gaza settlements NEVE DEKALIM, Gaza Strip, Aug 16 (Reuters) Israeli police ejected 50 rightist protesters from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the first expulsions from settlements in the occupied territory since the start of Israel's planned pullout, officials said.(Posted @ 17:10 PST)
Kurds release four kidnapped Iranian policemen TEHRAN, Aug 16 (Reuters) Kurdish separatist guerrillas have released four Iranian policemen they were holding as hostages, a police spokesman said on Tuesday. One policeman and several Kurds were killed last week in a failed attempt to rescue the men.(Posted @ 17:06 PST)
'No direct linkage' yet made between London bombings: Clarke LONDON, Aug 16 (AFP) Police have yet to establish a "direct linkage" between the July 7 bombings in London and the failed attempt on July 21 to repeat them, Britain's Home Secretary Charles Clarke said Tuesday. "I think it would be very, very surprising if they weren't linked in some way (but) there is not a direct linkage yet formally established to be able to make that assertion," Clarke told BBC radio. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Suspected Tiger sniper kills Sri Lanka soldier COLOMBO, Aug 16 (AFP) A suspected Tamil Tiger sniper shot dead a government soldier in north-eastern Sri Lanka Tuesday, a military official said. There was no immediate reaction from the guerrillas, who have denied responsibility for the sniper assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Policeman shot, police post bombed on outskirts of Kathmandu KATHMANDU, Aug 16 (AFP) Attackers suspected to be Maoist rebels shot and wounded a policeman and bombed a police post in separate attacks Tuesday on the outskirts of Nepal's capital Kathmandu, police said. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Russian cosmonaut Krikalyov takes record for longest time in space MOSCOW, Aug 16 (AFP) Veteran Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov broke the record Tuesday for the longest total time in space, and still has two months left before returning to Earth. Krikalyov, who has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since April 15, passed the record previously held by fellow-Russian Sergei Avdeyev, who spent a career total of 747 days, 14 hours, 14 minutes and 11 seconds in space, a spokeswoman for Russian ground control said. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Ferry with 23 on board capsizes in India NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (AFP) A ferry overloaded with 23 people capsized in a rain-swollen canal in Andhra Pradesh state, southern India, on Tuesday, police said, adding that most of the passengers were feared drowned. (Posted @ 15:45 PST)
Israel seizes gates of main settlement NEVE DEKALIM, Gaza Strip, Aug 16 (Reuters) Israeli troops seized the entrance to the largest Gaza settlement on Tuesday in a bid to quell resistance as Jews in the occupied territory were given a last chance to leave or be forcibly removed. Security officials fear that a hard core of ultranationalists, including some of the 5,000 who had infiltrated the settlements in recent weeks, could turn violent. Protesters set fire to tyres in the Elei Sinai settlement in northern Gaza, and police said 500 people were arrested overnight trying to slip into Gush Katif from Israel. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
Major quake hits northern Japan, dozens injured TOKYO, Aug 16 (Reuters) A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 jolted northern Japan on Tuesday, injuring at least 59 people, causing power outages and bringing trains to a halt, stranding thousands of passengers. Several aftershocks followed the initial quake, the largest with a magnitude of 4.5, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. A tsunami measuring about 10 cm (4 inches) high hit the coast of Miyagi prefecture, but a tsunami warning was lifted about 90 minutes after the initial quake. Tokyo's major airports resumed operations after runways were briefly closed for checks. (Posted @ 15:30 PST)
North Koreans have unprecedented talks with South's MPs SEOUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) Senior North Korean communist party officials held an unprecedented meeting with South Korean parliamentarians on Tuesday but skirted talks on Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons and international efforts to stop it. Kim Ki-nam, who is also a vice chairman of the North's body overseeing ties with the South, met the speaker of South Korea's parliament and legislative leaders. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Northeast China floods kill ten BEIJING, Aug 16 (Reuters) Floods caused by heavy rains in the northeast Chinese province of Liaoning have killed at least 10 people and left 35 missing, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Tuesday. More rain is forecast across the country this week, prompting the National Meteorological Centre to issue new flood warnings which already have affected more than 2.3 million people. (Posted @ 15:25 PST)
Iran nuclear chief vows to press on with fuel work TEHRAN, Aug 16 (AFP) - Iran's new nuclear policy chief, Ali Larijani, said Tehran will press on with ultra-sensitive fuel cyle work while continuing talks with the European Union, in comments published Tuesday.Larijani signaled in his first interview since being named Monday as Supreme National Security Council head, taking over from Hassan Rowhani, that Iran would not roll back its August 8 resumption of uranium conversion.(Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Pakistan, China holds first round of negotiation on FTA BEIJING, August 16 (APP): Pakistan and China held first round of negotiation on Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and decided to work out all the related matters in a spirit of accommodation, giving boost to bilateral trade while protecting their respective domestic business interest. The negotiation took place on August 15 and 16, at Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang region. Pakistan's side was represented bya seven-member delegation led by Shahid Bashir, senior official of Ministry of Commerce, while Assistant Minister Yi Xiaochun led the Chinese side. "We discussed a roadmap to finalize the agreement and make it operational in three phases, starting from January, 2006, " said Commercial Counsellor Pakistan Embassy in Beijing Shahid Mahmood. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Canadian businessman found dead in Baghdad OTTAWA, Aug 16 (AFP) - An Iraqi-Canadian businessman kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this month was killed despite efforts to pay a ransom, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said Monday. Martin warned all Canadians in Iraq to leave the country as he condemned the murder of Zaid Meerwali, 32, who was kidnapped from his Baghdad home on August 2. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Storms kill 17 people in Vietnam, damage hundreds of houses HANOI, Aug 16 (AFP) - Seventeen people were killed when storms pounded northern and central Vietnam at the weekend, causing heavy floods, officials and state media said Tuesday. Thirteen people were killed in central Nghe An province alone, with the other victims coming from three other provinces, weather officials and state media said. The storms had also flooded and damaged nearly 1,300 houses and more than 10,827 hectares (26,742 acres) of paddy fields in Nghe An, an official from the provincial flood and storm control department told AFP. "We are still exerting efforts to overcome the consequences of floods and these figures may continue to rise," he said. (Posted @ 09:25 PST)
Karachi Stocks up 18.67 points: KARACHI, August 16: At close of trading, the KSE-100 index was at 7141.65, up 18.67 points from Monday's close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
Forex update: KARACHI, August 16: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.1 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:25 PST)
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